Islam holy texts

[Caleb Wursten]

[Cat Williams]

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD'S LAST SERMON
 The last sermon acts a a reminder to the Islamic people to not forget everything Muhammad has preached. He also told his people that Satan has stopped trying to lead them astray on big things, but he will still attempt that he will lead them astray on the smaller things. He also reminds his people to treat women with kindness because they are their "partners and committed helpers" to the men. He closes his last sermon telling his followers to never forget about the 5 pillars and continue with them when he is gone, that there will be no other prophet after him (to be aware that some people might state that they are also prophets after him). He then commands his people to pass on his word to others, and for them to pass on to others.

On Friday, October 19, 2012 9:23:54 AM UTC-4, Caleb Wursten wrote:

[Christine Clark]

• Ibn Ishaq (d. c. 773 CE): Selections from the Life of Muhamma

Questions:
    1. Why are the stories significant?
    2. Why does Muhammad call Jesus his brother?

   Stories are significant because they provide historians with insight behind a religion, and it's influential people. For example, popular stories claim that "the mother of God's apostle, used to say when she was pregnant with God's apostle that a voice said to her, "You are pregnant with the lord of this people and when he is born say, 'I put him in the care of the One from the evil of every envier; then call him Muhammad.' " Muhammad's mother's supposed foreknowledge concerning his importance sheds a specific light upon Muhammad's origin. Muhammad's foster mother's journey to Mecca in search of a foster child did you not go as she had planned. His foster mother, "went and took him for the sole reason that I could not find anyone else." She did not plan to take Muhammad because no one else would take such a lowly orphan, but she quickly received good fortune after taking Muhammad home. Stories such as these reflect the belief that Muhammad was blessed by God.
     Muhammad calls Jesus his brother because he considers Jesus a fellow prophet and religious head, as he also considers Abraham the father of their religions. "He said: "I am what Abraham my father prayed for and the good news of [my brother] Jesus."

[Caleb Wursten]

               The Hadith illustrates the importance of character building and omitting regular charities. This is clearly supported by the quote "The deeds most loved by Allah swt (those are) done regularly, even if they are small". This quote is talking about how Allah values the small things. In addition to this the quote "Allah is not merciful to whim who is not merciful to people ". adds to the idea of Allah valuing mercy which is a positive characteristic trait to have. Another quote "He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah". This quote is stating politeness is favorable characteristic in Islam because the same time you thank people you thank Allah.

[Matt Riley]

The section I read dealt with how you will be punished if you misjudge or obstruct the way of God. "Verily, those who misbelieve and are unjust, God will not pardon them, nor will He guide them on the road--save the road to hell, to dwell therein for aye;--that is easy enough to God!" This quote explains that if you are a misbeliever God will not give you a pass; he will send you straight to Hell and it will be easy for him. The section also demotes Jesus from a Messiah to just a prophet. "The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, is but the apostle of God and His Word" It also says that if you are a believer that God will give you salvation which is shown in this quote  "As for those who believe in God, and take tight hold of Him, He will make them enter into mercy from Him and grace; and He will guide them to Himself by a right way." "If a man perish and have no child, but have a sister, let her have half of what he leaves; and he shall be her heir, if she have no son. But if there be two sisters, let them both have two thirds of what he leaves; and if there be brethren, both men and women, let the male have like the portion of two females." This quote shows that males and females had almost equal rights in some aspects in life.

[Greysen Heatherly]

Medieval Sourcebook:
Hadith on fasting, collected by al-Bukhari (d. 870 CE) The many articles on this topic all come back to one main topic. These topics all said that fasting was the main word of Muhammad. But the word of Muhammad stated that they are not to fast for more than one day continuously. The prophet replied " You will not fast for more than one day but you will fast without break"  This quote states that Muhammad says without hesitation that they will fast without such break but it will be continuous. Muhammad had originally said they must fast for days without end but if this had continued then he would lose his political power because they would basically leave due to the difficulty of the task.

[Jacob Cloutier]

The Sunnah on Labor and Profit

The Sunnah states that if you work hard for your money you shall be rewarded, but do not beg for your money for it is a catch 22. An example of this is a quote  from the first paragraph which states "

Verily it is better for one of you to take a rope and bring a bundle of wood upon his back and sell it, in which case God guards his honor, than to beg of people, whether they give him or not; if they do not give him, his reputation suffers and he returns disappointed; and if they give him, it is worse than that, for it layeth him under obligations." This is stating the point of a hard worker shall be rewarded and and beggar shall be cursed because in the line that states "than to beg of people, whether they give him or not; if they do not give, his reputation suffers and he returns disappointed; and if they give him, it is worse than that, for it layeth him under obligations." To put that into english it says that if you beg and don't get any money you feel down in the dumps and that no one cares and if you do get money it is worse because then you are forever in debt to that man. Another example of this would be a story of a poor man that goes to a prophet and begs him to help him feed his family. The prophet helps the man and the mans life greatly improves. He goes back to the prophet and thanks him. The prophet is happy for the man, but he tells him that all of this prosperity will come at a price, for his reputation is always scared. 

The Sunnah goes on to explain that all Merchants are evil unless proven otherwise. It also states that "The holder of a monoply is a sinner and an offender." It also backs up the Musilm theory of if you have money great, but do not forget the less fortunate because if you have all the money how are you helping the less fortunate.     

[Christine Clark]

So, the purpose of the Hadith is to establish and enforce the values and beliefs in Islam (and the Quran)?

[Jacob Cloutier]

Yes exactly

[Jacob Cloutier]

I wonder if some Muslims did continue to fast for the whole month?

[Jacob Cloutier]

Do you know if he was dying durning this sermon or did he kinda of retire?

[Douglas Kimball]

Surch 1. The Opening

 In this small section, there where only seven key points made, all pertaining to the belief in one god, Allah. In the first four sections, Allah is describer as, "the cherisher and sustainer of the worlds... Master of the Day of judgment." In the final three sections, it is written as a decree and a plead, going on the say that Allah is the only god that should be worshiped, and eventually asking Allah to, "Show us the straight way." in order to become more like, "those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace," These idea's seem to be part of a common goal or belief for all of those that share the Islamic faith and a way to hold the religion together as a hole.